Muc-Off Miracle Shine

Given it costs 16 quid, it would be easy to dismiss Muc-Off Miracle Shine as polish for posh bikes or riders with more money than sense. After all you can get high quality car products that do much the same for half the price. However, the effects are astounding, not to mention long-lived, and a little goes a remarkably long way.

Were this television, we'd have two folk in lab coats talking about its revolutionary fluoropolymer technology and how these compounds knit together to form an invisible barrier against UV light, salts, and tar, while dissuading water, dust, dirt and similar slimy spatter from sticking.

Miracle Shine's key ingredients include Carnauba wax which is extracted from the Brazilian prunifera palm leaf. It's commonly found in high quality furniture polishes, cosmetics, surf board preps and has even been used on speedboat hulls for improved speed and handing in salt water. Silicone oils ensure easy application and bolstering that all important mirror shine.

You'll want a thoroughly clean frame before using Miracle Shine - no point polishing crud. I didn't find any difference whether I applied it with a microfibre cloth or an old clean cotton sock. Technique is far more important.

It's important to apply it in very thin layers since these will cure faster without clogging the cloth. Some folk work in methodical sections, I tend to orbit the entire bike before buffing the hazy film with fresh rag, in practice that seems to mind, so long as you don't wait more that twenty minutes or so.

The resulting cosmetic allure, even from a single coat and across the whole spectrum of finishes, is jaw droppingly good, especially on metallic or flamboyant enamels. Minor imperfections such as light swirls or oxidisation vanish and bright work positively gleams with nominal effort.

Now, many of us apply secondary coats to key areas when preparing bikes for seasonal storage, turbo trainer slavery or just to prevent gloop sticking to down tubes and bottom bracket regions of cross and mountain bikes. However, whereas traditional polishes can be applied more or less on top of each other, Miracle Shine much prefers a full 24 hours between applications.

Miracle Shine's long term prowess against the salt monster and UV rays is yet to be seen but water beads and rolls away effortlessly, greatly reducing the time and chore factor in subsequent bike cleaning.

Verdict

Pricey compared with polymer car waxes but very effective

road.cc test report

Make and model: Muc-Off Miracle Shine

Size tested: 500ml

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

* "Muc-Off Miracle Shine is the ultimate, high quality polish and protectant. It's been specifically engineered to provide a deep, luxurious shine that will endure through all elements and keep your bike looking like it's just rolled off the showroom floor. Our unique formula contains a fusion of three separate waxes and a number of highly advanced ingredients that combine to produce a superior protective treatment.

* The really clever part of Miracle Shine is its use of Fluoro Polymer Technology, which we have incorporated for its amazing ability to repel water and atmospheric pollutants. This means your bike stays cleaner between washes, but it will also be easy to clean when you do eventually need to give it a quick scrub. Each time you apply Miracle Shine a Fluoro Polymer layer 'knits' together to form a microscopic protective barrier that's ultra tough and can extend the life of your bike's finish by preventing the build up of dirt and grime".

Some bold claims here but seems to be living up to the hype thus far.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

. Our unique formula contains a fusion of three separate waxes and a number of highly advanced ingredients that combine to produce a superior protective treatment.

* The really clever part of Miracle Shine is its use of Fluoro Polymer Technology, which we have incorporated for its amazing ability to repel water and atmospheric pollutants.

Rate the product for quality of construction:

7/10

Rate the product for performance:

8/10

Rate the product for durability:

8/10

Impressive to date, although longer term testing in harsher climes may say otherwise.

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:

7/10

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:

7/10

Nice to use.

Rate the product for value:

7/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Overall I've been delighted with the standards of lustre and protection. Single coats, thinly applied have resulted in a jewelled like, water/grime repelling gloss on all surfaces for several weeks on/sans asphalt. However, the same is also true of high quality, dare I say, cheaper car formulas. Proof of the polish lies in a long, harsh winter.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Quick to apply and has lived up to its hype thus far.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing; but harsh winters are the acid test and will reveal whether its genuinely superior to less exotic car based stuff.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes but its too early to say whether its genuinely more effective than polymer based car blends.

Shaun Audane is a freelance writer/product tester with over twenty-eight years riding experience, the last twelve (120,000 miles) spent putting bikes and kit through their paces for a variety of publications. Previous generations of his family worked at manufacturing's sharp end, thus Shaun can weld, has a sound understanding of frame building practice and a preference for steel or titanium framesets.
Citing Richard Ballantine and an Au pair as his earliest cycling influences, he is presently writing a cycling book with particular focus upon women, families and disabled audiences (Having been a registered care manager and coached children at Herne Hill Velodrome in earlier careers)

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ukmacgeek[6 posts]2 years ago

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For those that also like pontefract cakes you will also find Carnauba wax on the ingrediant list.. at least on the Haribo versions.. I guess thats what makes them so shiney shiney.. !!

To be honest, I tried it on my helmet and found the results less than satisfactory: dull, streaky and left an unusual mark on my helmet strap. That said, I did see excellent results on my stem and shifters, and my wife's rear hub is still looking as good as new after an evening of dirt track riding. Highly recommended.